Goodbye Beautiful Kobe Bryant

There are real giants outside the fairy tales. Some of them populate the world of the basketball courts. Kobe Bryant was more than one of the most prominent stars in the NBA. He was and always will be one of those people who invite children and adults to dream. He was the giant that attracted millions of viewers who craved to watch him play basketball.

As you can imagine, many people were very shocked after the news of his death. Kobe Bryant, 41, his daughter Gianna, 13, and seven others lost their lives after the helicopter they were traveling in crashed into a residential area in Los Angeles, California. It was a fatal accident that had a major impact on the sports world, where the Black Mamba was one of the most beloved basketball icons.

Therefore, many of his fans, athletes, politicians, celebrities and anonymous people who admired him pay tribute to him in one way or another. Everyone does that in their own special way.

Many spontaneously gathered at their local basketball court to commemorate a man who always remained a boy, who was passionate about basketball. All he wanted was a ball and a basket in which he could score all his dreams.

Kobe Bryant or Black Mamba – a man with a winning mentality

People called him Black Mamba because he was quite dangerous on the basketball court. Some say he chose that name after seeing Kill Bill, a Tarantino movie. That it was his determination that defined much of his professional life.

“ If you see me fighting a bear, pray for the bear, ” he used to say. His need to surpass himself, to always give the best of himself, was such that he was motivated to train much more than other players.

His records testify to the effects of this mentality and its characteristic exceptionalism:

• five NBA championship rings
• one League MVP
• two Olympic gold medals
• a record 18 consecutive All-Star Game selections
• four MVP Awards.

He even won an Academy Award for a short animation he made about his life.

This giant who wore the gold and purple of the LA Lakers was an almost hypnotic figure on the basketball court. He had a fantastic scoring ability and an easygoing personality that made him very sympathetic, especially to the rest of his teammates. He cheered them on from the couch and even personally brought water to them.

The Boy Who Loved Basketball

Some say that basketball was an innate talent for Kobe Bryant. His father, Joe Jellybean Bryant, who was also a professional player, is said to have passed on his passion for basketball. His daughter Gianna, who was already making a name for herself in the sports world before her death, also seemed to be a carrier of the sports gene.

Kobe spent much of his childhood in Italy, where his father played. But it wasn’t until 1991, and back in the United States, that he began to distinguish himself as a young star in the basketball world. It all happened while he was studying in Philadelphia.

His skills, maturity and exceptional play were such that he did not go to college, as many of the most prominent figures in the world of basketball do. He already played in the NBA when he was only eighteen years old. When he was twenty-one, he appeared in Forbes magazine after millions of sponsorship deals that included:

• Adidas
• Sprite
• Mattel
• Spalding
• Giorgio Armanic

Kobe Bryant, 20 years of career with light and shadow

Kobe Bryant retired from his pro career and the Los Angeles Lakers in 2016. Actually, after twenty years of career, he did that with an epic match. They once played against Utah Jazz and he scored sixty points in one night. The crowd went crazy , of course , and chanted his name over and over. This was because they said goodbye to Black Mamba , the giant who so inspired them to dream.

He had a very successful career, even despite the controversial rape affair with a 19-year-old woman who worked at a hotel where he was staying. However, the city dropped the charges after a settlement and a public apology from the player.

An unfinished project – support for women’s basketball

The lives cut short by his tragic death not only left wounds and holes, but they also destroyed some personal dreams and projects. This is because Kobe Bryant was a fan of women’s basketball. He even wanted it to be as recognized as men’s basketball.

His efforts mainly focused on his second daughter, Gianna Maria-Onore. This was because she was already making a dent in the basketball world under the guidance of her father. In fact, it was customary to see them both in the stadium’s catacombs when he had to play for the Lakers. This was because they shared the same love and overflowing passion for basketball.

One fateful Sunday, they went to a game where Gianna was to play that same afternoon. Unfortunately, neither of them got there. They lost their lives, leaving behind an unfulfilled dream and a life project.

The entire sports world deeply mourns their loss. However, the legacy of Black Mamba will live on forever. He will always be one of the most dazzling stars in the basketball world.